Feeder for invalids



Jan. 12, 1965 Filed Jan. 25, 1963 l. V. M. CURRY FEEDER FOR INVALIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR IRENE V. M. CURRY Jan. 12, 1965 v. M. CURRY FEEDER FOR INVALIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25. 1963 INVENTOR. IRENE V. M. CURRY Afrawzr the patient. doing the feeding can not accomplish other chores which drip all over the bed.

United States Patent 3,165,241 FEEDER FUR INVALIDS Irene V..M. Curry, 4 W. 31st St, New York, N.Y. Filed Jan. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 253,866 I 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-490) I i This invention relates to food handling devices and more particularly to such devices for handling food in a fluid or semifluid state.

The present invention finds ready application to nursing bottles, adapted for use with a disabled or bedridden patient, to supply same with their nourishment.

When a patient in a hospital is bedridden they often are unable to feed themselves either due to the nature of the injuries or because their condition is so acute that they do not have the control to handle the implements. This is also true for persons who are invalids at home or'in nursing establishments. In all of these cases another person must feed the patient. If the patient is in a hospital or other institution the feeding of the patient consumes much time and is very costly to the institution or If the patient is at home then the person must be done. Some units have been designed to feed individuals and thereby relieve a person from such a chore, however, these units are peculiarly adapted for feeding infants or for handling purely fluid substances like milk or formula. Furthermore, no control is provided for arresting the flow of such substance so if a disabled patient should attempt to use same an attendant is still. required to extract the feeding unit from the patients mouth and set it in such a way that it does not It'is an object of this invention to provide a novel food handling device for use with bedridden or otherwise disabled or invalid persons.

Another object is to-provide a novel food handling device which protects the food from substantial change in temperature for short periods of time.

Another object is to provide a nursing unit for handling fluid. or se'mifiuid foodstuffs.

. Still' another object is to provide a novel, insulated,

nursing unit, for use with invalid or bedridden patients,

wherein the patient can control the how of the foodstuff from the nursing unit.

Yet another object isto provide a novel, insulated, nursing unit, foruse with invalid or bedridden patients,

wherein the patient can control the amount of foodstuff is placed'in the patients mouth and the patient by pressure 7 upon the mouthpiece can start and arrest the flow of the foodstuff. According to another form of the invention the patient can control not only the start and stop of the food flow but the amount of food'flow, as well.

A cover is provided for keeping the mouthpiece in a sani-- tary condition.

able manner.

3,le5,24t

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure: 7

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a feeding unit which embodies the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the feeding unit.

FIG. 3 is an end view of one form of mouthpiece adapted for use with the feeding unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view of the-mouthpiece of FIG. 3 as it would appear to allow foodstuffs to pass therethrough.

. FIG. 5 is an end view of a modified form of mouthpiece adapted for use with the feeding unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the mouthpiece of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the mouthpiece of FIG. 5 with pressure applied along the lines '7-7.

FIG. 8 is an end view of the mouthpiece of FIG. 5 with pressure applied along lines 88.

FIG. 9 is an end view of the mouthpiece of FIG. 5 with pressure applied along the lines 99.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the present invention, an embodiment thereof is shown incorporated in a nursing unit adapted for use with a bedridden or otherwise disabled or invalid patient and generally-designated by the numeral Zll. It should be understood, however, that the hereinafter described application of the invention to a nursing unit is for the purpose of illustration only inasmuch as the subject invention finds ready application to other types of units for conveying foodstuffs to an individual who cannot feed himself.

It is to be understood that a container 23 in the-form of a glass jar may be provided with or without insulation and may be attached to a support by means of any suit- The container 23, necked down opening 25 (FIGS. '1 and 2) and a large opening 27 (FIG. 2) at the "other end, is adapted to be filled with foodstuffs29 to a predetermined level as indicated by the numerals 31 marked on the side of the container (FIG. 1). The foodstuff can either be entirely 'fiuid like'milk or broth or'it maybe semifluid like oatmeal or vegetable soup. In actuality any foodstuff which will move under the force of gravity through necked down portion 25 of container 23 can be handled by unit 21.

Threads 33 are provided on the outer surface of container 23 near large opening 27. A cover 35 of insulated 7 material having threads 37 formed therein (FIG. 2) is adapted to be threaded onto container 23 to close opening 27 and-maintain the foodstuffs therein sanitary. A handle 39 is provided on the top of cover 35.

A jacket 41 (FIG. 2), shown in phantom in FIG. 1, is adapted for a close fit with the outside of container 23. Jacket 41 and cover 35 are constructed from a material having good temperature insulating properties. When food is consumedin a normal manner there is no reason to protect it from changing temperature. Usually the person who isfeedin g himself does so at a speed at which .any change in temperature in the foodstuff is imperceptible. However, hospital patients, elderly persons in nursing homes, and otherwise bedridden persons must eat -slowly and at a rate wherein the foodstuffs will be subject to outside elements and the temperature will be affected thereby. By-constructing jacket 41 and cover 35 of. aninsulating material the foodstuffs in 'container 23 will be protected from the room temperature for aconsiderablelength of time usually sufiicient to maintain the For further comprehension of the invention, and of the features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

temperature of the foodstuff substantially constant.

A tube 45 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is adapted at one end 47 to be fitted over neck 25 of container 23 and under the corresponding portion of jacket 41, and at the other end 49 to receive a mouthpiece 51' (FIGS. 1,12 and 3 Mouthpiece 51 is' constructed from a resilient material in the form of a glass jar having a such as hard rubber or the like. A lip 53 (FIGS. 2 and 3)'is formed around mouthpiece 51 to provide the user he will nothav e to worry about choking on the'food because as he relaxes the pressure on the mouthpiece the with a means of gripping the mouthpiece and maintaining same in their mouth. A long thin passage 55 (FIGS;

as shown in FIG. 4 to allowthe foodstuff to reach the user. Thus the user may control the passage of the foodstuffs through mouthpiece. 51 without the use of his hands. In fact, the user by the degree of pressure applied to mouthpiece 51 may control the amount of foodstuffs V passing therethrough. V

As can be clearly seen from the figures, nursing unit 21 is easily assembled and'disassembled and therefore may be cleaned and sterilized as needed. Between feedings and cleanings a cap 61 (FIGS. '1 and 2) is placed over mouthpiece 51 to maintain same clean and sterile.

A bracket 65 is formed with a first ring-shaped end -67 adapted to'closely fit around nursing'unit 21, and a second ring-shaped end 69 adapted to closely fit around a post 71 held in position by a stand 73"(FIG. l). The, fit between end 69 of bracket '65 and post 71 permits bracket 65 to be positioned at any height along post 71 and thereby nursing unit 21 to 'be'disposedat the proper.

, food will stop flowing. Furthermore, should the user desire to stop' eating he can use his tongueor turn his head to expel the-mouthpiece from his'mouth and the closed passageway will prevent food from soiling the linen. 5 I

While'I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to. be, understood that -I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and thc t various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of-the invention as defined in the appended claims. I

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim as new, and desire to securre by United States Letters Patent ISI for holding foodstuff in a fluid or semifluid form and permitting same to flow therefrom under theinfiuence of gravity through a tube, comprising, a mouthpiece for said tube to control the passage of said foodstuif therefrom,

Q said mouthpiece being formed of resilient material, a

height for the patient. A hook 75 is formed on post 71. 7

When cover is removed to facilitate filling of container 21 handle 39 thereof may be placed over hook to prevent loss of cover 35 and to keep cover 35 at a convenient place. a 5

A modified form of mouthpiece,.generallyindicated by the numeral ".81, .is shown in FIGS. 5- -9. A passageway 83. having side walls andi87- is formed in mouthpiece 81' in such a manner that the walls 85 and 87 normally meet at the end of the. mouthpiece which fits in the users mouth thus closingpassagewayfiia. Control plates=91 are 5 formedwithinthewalls of'mouthpi'ece '81 having three.

1'steps'97, 99 and 101 longitudinally spaced therealong i (FIG. 6). Three lips 103, 105 and "107 are formed on mouthpiece 81 around .the outside thereof. "Control plates f91 are adapted to determine the extent 'totwhich pressure may be' applied to mouthpiece 31'to open passageway 83.

The position of lips 103,105 and 107 indicates to the user which section of mouthpiecesl and thereby which step of control plate 91 is-positioned between his teeth] In this manner the =user is given asort of braille. indication. by which he can control the flow of foodstuffs through mouthpiece 81..

If the userplaces his teethlbeyond lip 107 and then appliespressure alongthe lines: 77 (FIG. 6) step'917 "of control plate 91 will control "the extent of compression which can be applied to mouthpiece :81, to spread the passageway formed in said mouthpiece, said passageway having spaced walls converging into adjacent positions at the outer extremityof saidmouthpiece, said walls when in said adjacent positions obstructing the flow of said foodstuff from said mouthpiece, said walls when pressure is' applied in a predetermined directionito-said mouthpiece spreading apart'to permit the flow of said foodstuif therethrough, control means formed in said mouthpiece to determine the spacing of said .walls and therebylthe amount of foodstuff which will pass through said mouthin spreading of said walls.

2] In a nursing unitof the class described, acontainer for-holding. foodstuff "ina fluid orrsemifluid form and permitting same to flow therefrom underthe influence of gravity a tube, comprising,;a mouthpiece for saidtube to control the passage of said foodstuff. therefrom, jsaid ,mouthpiecebeing' formed of resilient material, a passage way formed in said mouthpiece, said passageway having .spacedwalls 'converging'into. :adjacen't positions at the outer extremity of saidnrouthpiece, said wallsw when in isaidadjacent positionsobstructing the flow ofsaid'foodstuff fronrsaid' mouthpiece,"said walls when pre'ssure is .applied in a predetermineddirection to said mouthpiece spreading apart to permit the flow of-'said;foodstutf.therethrough, control means IOIHIBd-ID. said ;mouthpi ece to "determine the spacing of said walls jand: thereby the amount'of foodstufi which will pass through said mouthip'iece, said control means including spaced'plates of rigid rnaterial, each of said plates having formedthereonsteplike formations, saidstep-like formations determiningthe r extent to which pressure, ,applied'falong' a line. passing walls85, 87 of passagewayffii Passageway183 will open faster iflow of food then he may position his 1661111136- and 103 and thereby, apply-pressure to mouthpiece. 81 along'linesu9-.-9 opening passageway 83-to theJextent shown'in BIG. 9. In any, of these positions if the. user relaxes the pres'sure on mouthpiece 81 walls 85," 87 of passageway 03 will close stoppingthe flow of'food from container-2L 5 "tween lip 107' and1105-andthereby apply. pressure .to

mouthpiece 81 along lines "8 8 opening passageway "83; j to theextentshown FIG. 8. If stillfaster flow .isde- '"siredthe user may position "his teethlbe tween lips 105 through'a 5 particular step :of said formation, will result 'inspreading of said -walls,-'a plurality of ridgessurropnd- --ing said mouthpiece, each said' ridge corresponding .to --.the' position of each :of said, steps whereby when-said mouthpiece is inserted in the mouth of a user said user can determine the" position 1thereo'fby the' feel of said ridges] .lieferences Cited inthe file of this p'atentl UNITED 'S TAT-EStPATENTS I 1. In a nursing'unit of the class; described, a container. 

1. IN A NURSING UNIT OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A CONTAINER FOR HOLDING FOODSTUFF IN A FLUID OR SEMIFLUID FORM AND PERMITTING SAME TO FLOW THEREFROM UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GRAVITY THROUGH A TUBE, COMPRISING, A MOUTHPIECE FOR SAID TUBE TO CONTROL THE PASSAGE OF SAID FOODSTUFF THEREFROM, SAID MOUTHPIECE BEING FORMED OF RESILIENT MATERIAL, A PASSAGEWAY FORMED IN SAID MOUTHPIECE, SAID PASSAGEWAY HAVING SPACED WALLS CONVERGING INTO ADJACENT POSITIONS AT THE OUTER EXTREMITY OF SAID MOUTHPIECE, SAID WALLS WHEN IN SAID ADJACENT POSITIONS OBSTRUCTING THE FLOW OF SAID FOODSTUFF FROM SAID MOUTHPIECE, SAID WALLS WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED IN A PREDETERMINED DIRECTION TO SAID MOUTHPIECE SPREADING APART TO PERMIT THE FLOW OF SAID FOODSTUFF THERETHROUGH, CONTROL MEANS FORMED IN SAID MOUTHPIECE TO DETERMINE THE SPACING OF SAID WALLS AND THEREBY THE AMOUNT OF FOODSTUFF WHICH WILL PASS THROUGH SAID MOUTHPIECE, SAID CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING SPACED PLATES OF RIGID MATERIAL, EACH OF SAID PLATES HAVING FORMED THEREON STEPLIKE FORMATIONS, SAID STEP-LIKE FORMATIONS DETERMINING THE EXTENT TO WHICH PRESSURE, APPLIED ALONG A LINE PASSING THROUGH A PARTICULAR STEP OF SAID FORMATION, WILL RESULT IN SPREADING OF SAID WALLS. 